A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has restrained all security agencies in the country, from arresting or detaining Murtala Ajaka, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the forthcoming November governorship election in Kogi State. The court also barred Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and security agencies from harassing the SDP candidate. Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order on Thursday following a fundamental right enforcement suit brought before it by the SDP candidate. Ajaka, had in the suit filed through his team of lawyers led by Sunday Aruwa, sought protection from the court. Insisting that his life was…
Author: Gloria Lamar Johnson
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THE Asset Recovery Committee set up by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, on Tuesday, raided an automobile shop owned by ex-Governor Samuel Ortom in Makurdi, the state capital. Some vehicles were seized during the operation. The committee reportedly used towing vans to pull out some luxury vehicles after attempts to drive them away failed. In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue accused Alia of witch hunting his predecessor. PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, described the committee’s outing as “a shameful showing of naked tyranny and impunity.” “Earlier today, thugs accompanied by security agents purporting to…
UNKNOWN gunmen Saturday morning invaded Zaki Akpuuna 1 and Diom communities of Mbaterem district in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State and reportedly killed no fewer than 24 people and burnt down many houses. Ukum is one of the three hotspots in Sankera axis where local bandits suspected to be gang members of the slain Terwase Akwaza aka Gana hold sway. Other hotspots are; Logo and Katsina-Ala. It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the sleepy communities around 8am on Saturday and launched a deadly attack leading to the death of 24 people. Locals who spoke to our correspondent…
YUNUSA Dahiru popularly known as Yunusa Yellow has regained his freedom Saturday after serving his six-year jail term for child trafficking and sexual exploitation of Ese Oruru, News Point Nigeria reports. Recall a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, had sentenced Yellow to 26 years imprisonment for the offence. Delivering the judgement in the case in 2016, Justice Jane Inyang, held that Dahiru was not guilty of count one which bothered on abduction. The judge, however, found him guilty of child trafficking, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge. He was jailed five years in count two (Child trafficking),…
THREE people have been reportedly killed and dozen others kidnapped by bandits who attacked the Sabon Layi community in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Although the police and Birnin-Gwari local government authorities have yet to comment on the incident, a community leader, Anas Musa, confirmed the attack to News Point Nigeria on Friday. He said that the bandits stormed Sabon Layi village at about 12pm on Thursday and started shooting sporadically, killing three farmers in the process. He gave the names of the victims as Anas Sabonlayi, Abubakar Dankibiya, and Harisu Un-Guwar Lemu. The Chairman of Birnin…
THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has certified noodles manufactured in Nigeria, saying they are safe for consumption. The confirmation followed the Agency’s investigation into the presence of ethylene oxide or its metabolite in noodles or their seasonings. This was made known by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye, during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday. She noted that ethylene oxide or its derivative was not found in any of the instant noodles produced in Nigeria and their seasonings which make them safe for consumption. The NAFDAC boss also declared that the…
SOME gunmen have reportedly invaded Ejule town in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing residents in the process. Our correspondent learnt that the attack started around 3.am on Thursday. A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider, and the wife of a youth leader in the community were reportedly killed in the attack. The okada rider was said to have been hit by a stray bullet while the woman was said to be out looking for her husband when she was hit and died immediately. Also, a family house in the town was reported to have been set…
EX-GOVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has been released from custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This newspaper had reported how the former governor granted the invitation of the commission around 10:00am on Tuesday. He drove into the Makurdi zonal office of the agency, which is located at Alor Gordon street in the state capital, accompanied by two of his former IDES. The former governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, and Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abraham Kwanhgu, were sighted with him. Detectives grilled Ortom on the financial expenditure of Benue under him as governor. Ortom handed…
THE immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom is currently in custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Our correspondent gathered that the ex-Governor was invited by the anti-graft body for questioning over his stewardship. Ortom, however, drove into the Makurdi zonal office of the agency, which is located at Alor Gordon street in the state capital at exactly 10:08am. He walked straight into the building. The former governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, and Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abraham Kwanhgu, were sighted with him. He had not left the premises as of 11:25am when this report…
SUSPECTED gunmen have kidnapped the Oba of Idofin, Shedrack Durojaiye Obibeni, and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi. They were kidnapped along Makutu-Idofin road in Kogi State at about 5pm on Monday, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria. Confirming the incident, Mr Abdulrasak Asiru, Yagba East Local Government Council Chairman described it as “very shocking” and “sad”. Asiru said that he was still in shock over the incident which had not happened in the area for almost two years. “I as the council chairman and the people of Yagba East are in…
SUSPECTED bandits have killed a traditional title holder, the Ardo of Birni and Kewaye of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji Shuaibu Mohammed, and his four children. The incident occurred on Saturday night at about 10pm in Dorayi village of Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The bandits numbering five also rustled 100 cows belonging to the deceased. The wife of the deceased, Malama Halima Shuaibu, told newsmen after the funeral of the victims that the bandits shot her husband in the head. “Ardo was brought out of his bedroom and shot twice in his head, and he died instantly. “The bandits went…
SIX out of the seven kidnapped students at the University of Jos have regained their freedom after spending two days in captivity. The students who live off campus were kidnapped on Wednesday night in their rooms around Ring Road area of Jos North Local Government Area of the state. The state Commissioner of Police who disclosed the release of the victims in a statement said the police had intensified efforts to rescue the last victim. The statement reads, “Today, the Plateau State Command is pleased to announce to the general public that five of the victims who were kidnapped on…
UNKNOWN gunmen have abducted seven students of the University of Jos. DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Police Command in Plateau State, confirmed the incident to the newsmen on Wednesday in Jos. According to Alabo, the students were abducted on Monday night at their hostel located outside the campus. He explained that the students were whisked away while reading for their second-semester examinations that commenced on Tuesday. “It is true that seven students of the University of Jos were abducted by some criminal elements. “They were picked up on Monday at about 8:30pm at their…
THE kidnapped Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father Jeremiah Yakubu has been released by his abductors. News Point Nigeria reports that this was confirmed by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Father Emmanuel Okolo, who said that the kidnapped priest regained his freedom on Monday evening. He, however, did not disclose if any ransom was paid or not before the abducted priest was released. Yakubu was kidnapped from the parish rectory in the Kauru Local Government at about 11 pm on Sunday. Kidnapping for ransom is…
A TRADITIONAL ruler in Plateau State, Joshua Mutkut, has been kidnapped by gunmen, News Point Nigeria gathered. News Point Nigeria learnt that Mutkut, who is the paramount ruler of the Mushere community in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, was abducted at his palace in the locality on Sunday night. The governor of the state, Caleb Mutfwang, confirmed the development on Monday while appearing on a programme organised to celebrate Democracy Day in the state. In the same vein, the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father Jeremiah…
THE governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, has revealed that no fewer than 150 people have been killed in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state in the last three weeks. The state has over the years been battling with security challenges often involving the killing of citizens by unidentified gunmen. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Governor Mutfwang lamented the increase in attacks in the state in recent weeks. “Last night four people were killed in Mangu. Conservatively, I will put it that in the last three weeks, we have buried…
THE Federal Government’s fiscal operations in the early part of this year have resulted into a 22.8 per cent rise in deficit spending in February 2023. The development was driven by a huge drop in oil revenue during the period. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in its Monthly Economic Report, MER, for February 2023 released yesterday, indicated that the deficit during the month of February was N513.05 billion, bringing the total deficit for the first two months of 2023 to N931 billion. The report indicated that the oil sector, which had recorded a growth of 31 per cent to…
THREE family members have been reportedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Monday at Greenland community behind 500 Housing Estate, Ganaja in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State. The incident occurred at about 9 pm on Monday according to eyewitnesses, as residents within the community scampered for safety. According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen came with a Siena bus shooting sporadically with the aim of kidnapping their prime target who happened to be a retired security officer. The Chairman of the Greenland community Ajaokuta Local Government Area Kogi State, Paul Atabor confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Wednesday. Atabor…
EXPERTS in Migration, Humanitarian Affairs and Health Specialists are currently meeting in Abuja to elaborate a contingency plan for the management of displaced parsons in the ECOWAS region. The 5-day workshop, which opened on Monday in the Nigerian capital, will focus on the current situation of returning African migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and asylum-seekers in the ECOWAS region. Declaring the workshop open, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Madam Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, noted that its was the collective responsibility of ECOWAS as a regional body and regional health organization to respond to the various alerts by reflecting…
THE convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello was on Saturday blocked and attacked by people believed to be supporters of a rival. The incident which occured at about 12.30 hours left many people injured. According to a statement issued by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, the attack took place near the Naval Base, few kilometres from Lokoja. Fanwo noted that the convoy of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, having sighted that of the Governor, blocked the road and Ajaka’s armed thugs started shooting sporadically at the convoy of the Governor. The statement reads: “A…